MONTGOMERY— Gov. Bob Riley has awarded a $40,296 grant to provide assistance and support to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in eight southeast Alabama counties.
The grant will help The House of Ruth in Dothan provide a 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter for victims and their children, counseling and court advocacy services. The organization serves victims in Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties. The funding supplements previous grants awarded earlier this year.
“It is critically important for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to receive professional and compassionate care, and I’m very pleased this grant will help victims in the area obtain this assistance,” said Riley.
The House of Ruth began serving domestic violence victims and their children in October 1982. They expanded their services to victims of sexual assault in September 1991.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Riley notified Leigh Locklar, president of the organization’s board of directors, that the grant had been approved.
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Contact: Josh Carples; Larry Childers